Home solar installations are a major investment, and the warranties behind your panels, inverter, and battery are the safety net that protects that investment. A clear understanding of what is covered, who is responsible, and what you need to do to keep the warranty valid can save you money and frustration over the life of the system.

Before you sign: Understanding the warranty that comes with your home solar system helps you avoid surprise repair costs. This guide breaks down panel, inverter, battery and workmanship coverage. For a full overview of ownership considerations, see our ownership and warranties page.

What a solar warranty covers

A home solar system typically comes with several different warranties, each covering a different part of the system or a different type of risk. The main categories are product warranties for the physical equipment, performance (or output) warranties that promise how much electricity the panels will produce over time, and workmanship or installation warranties that cover the labor and mounting of the system. Later sections of this guide will also look at the specific warranty considerations for home battery storage and at the way warranties work under leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Product, performance and workmanship warranties

Most solar panels and inverters come with a manufacturer’s product warranty that covers defects in materials and manufacturing. According to the Clean Energy States Alliance’s 2018 financing guide, solar panels may come with a manufacturer’s warranty covering at least 80 percent system performance for 20 to 25 years, while inverters have separate warranties that are typically 5 to 10 years, though some are longer. The guide also points out that panel manufacturers usually provide extended performance warranties, but parts such as disconnects, wiring and racking may have limited or no warranty unless you purchase extra protection.

A performance warranty is separate from the product warranty and is tied to the gradual loss of panel efficiency over time. This is usually expressed as a percentage of the panel’s original power rating after a set number of years. Understanding expected degradation helps you evaluate those promises. Research published by the National Laboratory of the Rockies, based on an analytical review of nearly 2,000 degradation rates from field studies over 40 years, found a median degradation rate of 0.5 percent per year for flat-plate terrestrial modules. At that median rate, a panel operating for a couple of decades would still produce the great majority of its original output, which helps put the 80 percent performance figure CESA mentions in context.

Workmanship warranties are provided by the installer or retailer and cover the quality of the physical installation. The Queensland Government’s battery buyers guide explains that in Australia, installation warranties are generally the responsibility of the retailer or Australian supplier, while component warranties belong to the manufacturer. The guide warns that “the quality of a warranty is only as good as the installer that provides it,” because installers can go out of business. Ask any installer whether it offers a written workmanship warranty, how long it lasts and what it covers. For help comparing what different installers offer, review the system comparisons overview.

The table below summarizes the main warranty types and what to check for each.

Warranty type What it covers What to check
Product warranty (panels, inverter, racking) Defects in materials and manufacturing that cause early failure of the equipment. Coverage length for each component; whether the warranty is from the manufacturer or the installer; transferability if you sell your home.
Performance warranty A minimum power output after a set number of years; CESA cites at least 80 percent for 20 to 25 years as a typical panel warranty. The promised percentage and year; how a shortfall is compensated; whether degradation is measured at the panel level or system level.
Workmanship warranty Installation defects, such as roof leaks, loose mountings, or wiring errors. Length of coverage; whether it is backed by the installer or a third party; what happens if the installer goes out of business.
Battery warranty Capacity retention, cycle life, and freedom from defects; often a mix of years, energy throughput, and end-of-warranty capacity. Term in years and maximum throughput in megawatt-hours; retained capacity percentage at end of warranty; exclusions for depth of discharge or temperature extremes.

Battery warranties, what’s different

A home battery adds a new layer of warranty complexity. Unlike a solar panel that slowly loses output over time, a battery degrades with each charge-discharge cycle, so its warranty typically combines a calendar life with a total energy throughput limit and a warranted remaining capacity. Queensland’s battery buyers guide recommends that when you collect quotes you ask the retailer about “warranties, any specific exclusions or operational conditions for the warranty to remain valid, which warranties are the retailer’s responsibility and which are the manufacturers.” The same guide also advises you to ask about maintenance requirements and whether parts are readily available. In the U.S., similar questions apply, and you can explore battery-specific considerations on the solar battery comparisons page.

The Queensland guide notes that under Australian consumer law the importer of the components bears primary responsibility for product warranties, and even if your installer ceases trading the manufacturer must still honor its product warranty. While U.S. consumer protection laws differ, the practical lesson is the same: keep all manufacturer details for every component so you can pursue a claim directly if your installer is no longer available.

What the research says about panel degradation

Performance warranties are built around expectations of panel degradation. The median 0.5 percent annual degradation rate documented in the review by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL) provides a useful real-world benchmark. At that rate, a panel would lose roughly 10 to 12 percent of its original output after 20 to 25 years. A warranty that promises 80 percent of the original power at year 25 leaves a comfortable margin above the median, though actual rates can vary by technology and climate. When you compare warranty promises, keep this typical degradation in mind and look for clear language about how the output is measured and what remedy you receive if the system falls short.

Warranties in leases and power purchase agreements

If you choose a solar lease or a power purchase agreement, the warranty picture shifts because you do not own the equipment. The Clean Energy States Alliance’s 2018 financing guide states that under most lease and PPA arrangements the third-party owner covers operations and maintenance over the contract term. However, the guide cautions that leases sometimes omit coverage for replacing certain components, such as the inverter, so you should read the contract closely. It also describes a common option where the homeowner makes a single upfront maintenance payment, which “could reduce the third-party owner’s incentive to provide good maintenance service” unless the lease includes a minimum performance warranty.

Many lease and PPA contracts offer a production promise. If the system generates fewer kilowatt-hours than promised in a year, the third-party owner compensates the homeowner on a per-kilowatt-hour basis. The CESA guide advises you to check whether that compensation is at a wholesale or retail rate. The same guide notes that when you own the system outright, production shortfall risks fall entirely on you, though you may have the panel manufacturer’s performance warranty to fall back on. For a broader look at how different payment models affect your obligations, see the home solar financing article.

Get warranty details in writing before you sign

Consumer protection guides on both sides of the Pacific stress the importance of seeing warranty terms in writing before you commit. California’s Public Utilities Commission, in its Solar Consumer Protection Guide, requires the state’s investor-owned utility customers to read and sign the guide before connecting a system to the grid. The CPUC guide urges homeowners to save copies of all documents, explaining that “the information will be useful if you sell your home, need to replace your roof, or have any repair or maintenance issues.” The guide also tells you to ask the solar provider for a completed Solar Energy System Disclosure Document that spells out costs and other financial details.

Queensland’s battery buyers guide echoes this advice, recommending that you “receive and keep all the information regarding your installation, including the manufacturer details for each component and any additional warranties each component may have.” Never rely on a verbal promise; the warranty you can enforce is the one on paper. If a salesperson promises something that is not in the contract, ask them to put it in writing before you sign.

Keeping records protects your warranty rights

Once your system is installed, maintaining the warranty requires that you keep records and perform basic upkeep. Queensland’s household solar maintenance page explains that the installer must provide instruction handbooks, warranty documents, and a maintenance schedule. The page advises you to periodically check your system’s performance by looking at generation levels on your electricity bills, monitoring data, and the inverter’s display or online interface for error messages. Visual checks from the ground can help you spot loose panels, damaged wiring, or debris buildup that could harm performance.

The same Queensland guide strongly recommends that any close-quarters inspection or electrical work be left to a qualified professional such as a licensed electrician or an accredited installer. Keeping a log of maintenance visits, monitoring reports, and any correspondence with your installer demonstrates that you have followed the required care, which can be decisive if you ever need to make a warranty claim. Our overview of solar maintenance explains what a preventative care routine looks like for U.S. homeowners.

What can void a solar warranty?

Warranties often contain exclusions that will void coverage if certain conditions are not met. The Queensland battery guide mentions asking about “operational conditions for the warranty to remain valid.” One common condition is that only a licensed electrician may perform electrical work on the system; the same guide states that by law in Australia only a licensed electrician can carry out electrical work on a battery. The guide also says it is wise not to fully charge and discharge a battery more than 2 to 3 times a day, because this shortens its lifespan, and that a home energy management system (HEMS) or similar app can usually help prevent that. Check your battery warranty for its own operating conditions.

Panel and inverter warranties have their own conditions, so read them before any change. The Queensland maintenance page emphasizes that failing to maintain the system can reduce performance. Before making any modification, such as adding a battery to an existing solar system, consult the original equipment manuals and your installer. If you are considering upgrading your system, the ownership and warranties page discusses how additions can affect existing coverage.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if my installer goes out of business?

Under Australian consumer law, manufacturers must still honor product warranties even if the retailer or installer is no longer operating, according to the Queensland battery guide. U.S. rules differ, so check the warranty terms themselves. Keep your product paperwork with the manufacturer’s contact details, and reach out to the manufacturer directly if your installer cannot help. California’s CPUC guide recommends storing all contract and warranty documents precisely for situations like this.

Does a solar lease or PPA come with a maintenance warranty?

Typically, yes. The 2018 CESA financing guide explains that most third-party ownership arrangements cover operations and maintenance over the contract term. However, some leases may not cover inverter replacement, and an upfront maintenance payment could reduce the owner’s incentive to perform quality upkeep. Always read the specific contract to see who pays for which repairs and whether a production promise is included.

Will I lose my panel warranty if I clean the panels myself?

Check the cleaning section of your panel manual and warranty, because conditions differ between manufacturers. The Queensland maintenance page recommends doing visual inspections from the ground and leaving close-quarters inspections and roof work to a licensed professional.

For more on how warranties fit into the bigger picture of buying and owning a solar energy system, see the ownership and warranties category page or browse the wider home solar costs and decisions section.

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